ABSTRACT

It would be difficult to find a more interesting topic than the relationship between the news media and politics, especially given that Americans are now living in the "Twitter presidency" of Donald Trump. Academic research in the area of media and politics is rapidly breaking new ground to keep pace with prolific media developments and societal changes. This innovative, up-to-date text moves beyond rudimentary concepts and definitions to consider exciting research as well as practical applications that address monumental changes in media systems in the US and the world. This carefully crafted volume explores key questions posed by academics and practitioners alike, exposing students to rigorous scholarship as well as everyday challenges confronted by politicians, journalists, and media consumers.

Each chapter opens with a "big question" about the impact of the news media, provides an overview of the more general topic, and then answers that question by appealing to the best, most-up-to-date research in the field. The volume as a whole is held together by an exploration of the rapidly changing media environment and the influence these changes have on individual political behavior and governments as a whole.

New Directions in Media and Politics makes an ideal anchor for courses as it digs deeper into the questions that standard textbooks only hint at—and presents scholarly evidence to support the arguments made.

New to the Second Edition

  • Fully updated through the 2016 elections and the early Trump presidency with a special focus on the role of social media.
  • Adds three new chapters: The Move to Mobile; Media and Public Policy; and Fake News.
  • Adds Discussion Questions to the end of each chapter.

chapter 1|6 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|22 pages

The American Media System Today

Is the Public Fragmenting?

chapter 5|19 pages

All Politics Is Local?

Assessing the Role of Local Television News in a Polarized Era

chapter 6|23 pages

News Media and War

Warmongers or Peacemakers? 1

chapter 7|21 pages

Campaigns Go Social

Are Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter Changing Elections?

chapter 8|15 pages

The Move to Mobile

What’s the Impact on Citizen News Attention?

chapter 9|16 pages

Negative Campaigns

Are They Good for American Democracy?

chapter 10|25 pages

Targeting Campaign Messages

Good for Campaigns but Bad for America?

chapter 12|20 pages

Congress and the Media

Who Has the Upper Hand?

chapter 13|21 pages

Reassessing the Power of Speech in a Crowded Media World

Conditional Modern Presidential Leadership of Public Opinion

chapter 14|23 pages

Media and Public Policy

Does Media Coverage Depend on the Medium?

chapter 15|19 pages

Fake News

What Is the Influence of Fabricated Stories and Efforts to Undermine Media Credibility?

chapter 16|18 pages

Politics in the Digital Age

A Scary Prospect?